Musical melody-producing comb



United States Patent Office 3,319,507 Patented May 16, 1967 3,319,507 MUSICAL MELODY-PRDUCING COMB Franklin E. Wolcott, 2870 W. Broadway, Los Angeles, Calif.. 90041 Filed 9ct. S, i964, Ser. No. 402,577 1) Claims. (Cl. 84-375) Generally speaking, the present invention relates to a musical melody-producing comb having a plurality of teeth adapted t-o produce different musical notes when plucked or vibrated and, more particularly, pertains -to such a comb wherein the plurality of teeth are so arranged in sequence along the length of the comb as to produce the successive notes of a desired melody in response to successive sequential digital plucking or vibration of the free outer ends of the comb teeth along the row of comb teeth of the comb. In other words, a person may take his finger or thumb, or any other suitable object, and merely run it along the free outer ends of the row of comb teeth, at the proper speed, of course, and the successive notes `of a desired melody will be produced. Furthermore, it should be noted that the musical melodyproducing features of the comb in no way interferes with the use of the comb for hair combing purposes since the outer ends of the comb teeth all lie along a substantially nonvarying line (which may be a straight line, a curved line, or the like) so that it cannot be said that any individual comb tooth free end projects substantially be yond others adjacent thereto which would have the undesirable effect of seriously hampering a hair combing operation.

With the above points in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel musical melodyproducing comb having the advantages referred to herein and including the features referred to herein, generically and/or specically, and individually or in combination, and which is of extremely simple, inexpensive construction adapted for large-scale mass manufacture at very loW cost whereby to be conducive to widespread use thereof.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel musical melody-producing comb `of the character referred to in the preceding object wherein the comb has a plurality of successive longitudinal tooth members, different ones of which have different natural res-onant frequencies corresponding to the different sequential notes or musical tones of a desired specific musical melody so that successive digital plucking of the free outer ends thereof -along the row of teeth will audibly and successively produce in proper sequence the tones or notes of said desired specific musical melody.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a musical melody-producing comb of Ithe character referred to in the preceding object wherein the different natural resonant frequencies of different ones of the comb tooth members are provided by modifying the corresponding comb tooth effective stiffnesses and/ or masses.

Further objects are implicit in the detailed description which follows hereinafter (which is to be considered as exemplary of, but not specifically limiting, the present invention), and said objects will be apparent to persons skilled in the art after a careful study of the detailed description which follows hereinafter.

For the purpose of clarifying the nature of the present invention, several exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the hereinbelow-described figures of the `accompanying single drawing sheet and are described in detail hereinafter.

FIG. l is a front elevational view of one exemplary embodiment of the invention illustrating approximately one-half (the right half) ofthe row of comb teeth as comprising one form of the musical melody-producing comb of the present invention. Of course, it should be understood that the remainder of the teeth (approximately the left half of the row of comb teeth) may `also similarly comprise successively different musical notes in the right half of said row of comb teeth, if desired. Said left half of the comb teeth are not so shown in FIG. 1 merely for purposes of drawing simplification.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the right portion of the musical melody-producing comb of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view, in elevation with respect to the comb teeth and in cross section with respect to the comb `base member, taken substantially along the plane indicated by the arrows 3 3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary right comb end elevational View, generally similar to FIG. 2, but illustrates a slight modification thereof wherein the different natural resonant frequencies of the successive comb teeth are provided by a modified construction thereof as compared to the first form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-3.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but illustrates a further modification of the comb teeth for the purpose of producing the successively different natural resonant frequencies thereof.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the plane indicated by the arrows 6--6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a View similar to FIGS. 4 and 5 but illustrates another additional modification of the comb teeth for the purpose of producing the successively different natural resonant frequencies thereof.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary View, in elevation with respect to the comb teeth and in cross section with respect to the comb base member, taken substantially along the plane indicated by the arrows 8-8 of FIG. 7.

Generally speaking, the present invention may be said to comprise a comb base member provided therealong with a plurality of comb teeth members, which together comprise and define a row of said comb tooth members having a row of free outer comb teeth member ends spaced along an imaginary line (-of any desired shape) and together comprising what might be termed comb tooth abutment end means. The plurality of comb tooth members have natural resonant frequencies corresponding to the plurality of musical notes or tones of a musical melody.

The exemplary first form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. l-3 may be said to comprise a longitudinal comb base member 11 having upstanding end members 12 at each end and integrally provided therebetween with a plurality of longitudinally spaced, similarly directed, substantially parallel comb tooth members, such `as individually generally designated by the reference numeral 13, with all of said comb tooth members together comprising and dening a longitudinal row of said comb tooth members as generally designated at 14.

It will be noted that each of said comb tooth members 13 has a free outer end 13E and that all of said free outer ends 13E together lie longitudinally spaced yalong an imaginary straight line, such as is designated in broken lines at 15 in FIGS. l and 2, with all of said free outer ends 13E effectively comprising comb tooth abutment end means generally designated by the reference numeral 14E.

It should be noted that each of the successive longitudinally spaced comb tooth members 13 has a particular and specific natural resonant 'frequency (which usually differs from the yothers adjacent thereto, although not in all instances) whereby different sequential comb teeth 13 along the row 14 thereof will produce in sequence, when successively plucked, the tones yor notes of a desired specific musical melody. The variation in natural resonant fre- 3 quencies of the various different tooth members 13 of the row 14 thereof is provided by appropirate variation of effective stiffnesses and/or masses thereof.

In the case of the first exemplary form of the'invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 3, the variation in natural resonant frequency is substantially entirely provided by corresponding variations in stiffness of the different comb tooth members 13 which is providedby having the corresponding comb tooth members 13 of different effective lengths from the longitudinally aligned outer free ends 13E thereof to the inner junction ends 13] thereof, integrally connected to the longitudinal comb base member 11.

It will be noted that in the exemplary first form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the effective variation in the length ofthe different comb tooth members 13 is provided by reason of the variable depth sl-ots, such as illustrated at 16, provided below the level of the normal top ylevel of a conventional longitudinal comb base member such as that shown at 11 or, in other words, extending to varying degrees downwardly into the comb base member 11. This has the effect of modifying the effective comb tooth length of the various different comb tooth members 13 along the row 14 thereof so that a person may startat the right end vof the comb shown in FIG. 1 and successively pluck the free comb tooth ends 13E of the comb tooth abutment end means 14E in a manner such as to audibly produce the successive notes of a desired musical melody. 1

It will be noted that the exemplary form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 is extremely easy to manufacture by merely providing variable depth cutting means for momentary abutment with the upper or inner edge of the longitudinal comb base member 11 which will produce the variable depth multiple slots 16 or, if desired, means for molding the comb teeth 13 in such variable lengths may be employed. l

FIG. 4 illustrates a modified arrangement for producing different natural resonant frequencies of different comb tooth members and since it comprises a modification of the first form of the invention, corresponding parts are indicated by corresponding reference numerals, followed by the letter a, however. In this modification, it will be noted that the different comb tooth members 13a are provided with cross-sectionally area-modified portions, as indicated at 17 which, in this form of the invention, extend to different yheights relative to the longitudinal comb base member 11a and also which in this modification of the invention are positioned along corresponding front and rear edges of the corresponding tooth members 13a whereby to effectively modify to a substanital degree the stiffnesses of the different comb tooth members 13a in correspondence with the sequence of musical notes or tones of a desired specific musical melody. There is some very slight modification of the masses of the various comb tooth members 13a, but this is relatively insignificant compared to the variations in stiffness provided by the structure shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. illustrates a further modified arrangement for producing different natural resonant frequencies of different comb tooth members and since it comprises a modi'- fication having elements similar to FIG. 1 and elements similar to FIG. 4, corresponding parts will be indicated by corresponding reference numerals, followed by the letter b, however. In this modification, it will be noted that the different tooth members 13b effectively have relatively cross-sectionally area-modified portions extending to substantially the same heights (in the example illustrated, comprising the full height of each tooth member -although not specifically so limited in all forms of the invention). In other words, each tooth member has the same taper (or variation in cross-sectional area) along the length thereof, but differs in said cross-sectional area from various others of said tooth members at similar heights whereby to effectively modify stiffness and mass of the various tooth members 13b in correspondence with the desired sequence of musical notes or tones of a desired specific musical melody. The area-modified portions 17 bf are best illustrated by careful examination of the enlarged view of two adjacent comb tooth members 13b .as illustrated in FIG. 6.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a further modification of the invention having certain portions similar to the first form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 and having certain portions similar to the second form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 4. Therefore, similar portions are designated by similar reference numerals, followed by the letter c, however. In this modification, it will be noted that 'the different natural resonant frequencies of the different comb tooth members 13e is provided by reason of the different comb tooth members 13e being provided with cross-sectionally area-modified portions 17e which extend to different heights from the longitudinal comb base member 11a` but do so along corresponding lateral or side edges of the corresponding tooth members 13C as is clearly shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 rather than along the front and rear edges of the corresponding tooth members, as illustrated at 17 in the earlier modification of theuin; vention shown in FIG. 4. This, of course, has the effect of correspondingly modifying the stiffnesses of the different tooth members 13C in correspondence with the desired sequence of musical notes or tones of a desired specific musical melody. v Y

Of course, it should be noted that the desired effective variation in natural resonant frequencies of the various comb tooth members may be provided in a variety of ways other than the exemplary ones illustrated, and all such are intended to be included and comprehended here; in. For example, in the case of the forms illustrated in FIG. 4 and in FIGS. 7 and 8, the cross-sectionalljy aea= modified portions need not necessarily extend to different heights but with the same degree of cross-sectional area modification, but instead may extend to substantially the same heights but with different extents of cross sectional area modification, or any combination thereof may be employed. Also, it is possible to have other types of variable cross-sections along the length of various tooth members from the outer free end thereof to the lower or inner junction end thereof in a manner such as to effec-A tively modify stiffness and/ or mass as desired for corre-4 sponding natural resonant frequency variation. Additionally, the comb teeth need not all have similar tapers (or, indeed, any tapers) as shown in the forms of the invention illustrated.

Also, the desired natural resonant frequency variation may be produced by having different ones of the comb tooth members effectively provided with different physical properties with respect to the effective moduli of elasticity thereof. This may be done by employing different materials which basically have different moduli of elasticity or may be provided by selective differential physical treatment, such as heat treatment or the like, in a manner correspondingly modifying the micro structure and/ or the physical properties of the different comb tooth members and/ or the corresponding portions of the longitudinal comb base member mounting same in cantilever fashion.

It should be understood that the figures and the specific description thereof set forth in this application are for the purpose of illustrating the present invention and are not lto be construed as limiting the present invention to the precise and detailed specific structure shown in the figures and specifically described hereinbefore. Rather, the real invention is intended to include substantially equivalent constructions embodying the basic teachings and inventive concept of the present invention.

I claim: Y Y

1. A musical melody-producing comb having a plurality of teeth adapted to produce the successive notes of a melody when sequentially vibrated, comprising: a comb base member provided therealong with a plurality of canti# lever-connected spaced comb tooth members together comprising and defining a row of said comb tooth members, said comb tooth members having outer free ends spaced along an imaginary line and together comprising comb tooth abutment end means, said successive spaced comb tooth members having natural resonant frequencies corresponding to the sequential musical notes and tones of a desired specific musical melody so that successive sequential vibrating of the free outer ends of said row of teeth along said comb tooth abutment end means will audibly and successively produce in the proper sequence the Vmusical notes and tones of said desired specific musical melody, said successive spaced comb tooth members being spaced from each other in a direction parallel to said imaginary line by average distances less than two times the average thickness in the same direction of each of said adjacent comb tooth members on each side thereof whereby, together with said comb base member, to define and comprise a fully functional and usable hair comb adapted for use in combing ones hair.

2. A musical melody-producing comb having `a plurality of teeth adapted to produce the successive notes of a melody when .sequentially vibrated, comprising: a comb base member provided therealong with a plurality of cantilever-connected spaced comb tooth members together comprising and defining a row of said comb tooth members, said comb tooth members having outer free ends spaced along an imaginary line and together comprising comb tooth abutment end means, said successive spaced comb tooth members having natural resonant frequencies corresponding to the sequential musical notes and tones of a desired specific musical melody so that successive sequential vibrating of the free outer ends of said row of teeth along said comb tooth abutment end means will audibly and successively produce in the proper sequence the musical notes and tones of said desired specific musical melody, at least some of said corresponding natural resonant frequencies differing from each other and comprising different natural resonant frequencies caused by having corresponding ones of said plurality of said tooth members provided with different effective ratios of stiffness-to-mass along and in the direction of the length of said comb tooth end abutment means, said successive spaced comb tooth members being spaced from each other in a direction paralled to said imaginary line by average distances less than one and one-half times the average thickness in the same direction of each of said adjacent comb tooth members on each side thereof whereby, together with said comb base member, to dene and comprise a fully functional and usable hair comb adapted for use in combing ones hair.

3. A musical melody-producing comb having a plurality of teeth adapted to produce the successive notes of a melody when sequentially vibrated, comprising: a comb base member provided therealong with a plurality of cantilever-connected spaced comb tooth members together comprising and defining a row of said comb tooth members, said comb tooth members having outer free ends spaced along an imaginary line and together comprising comb tooth abutment end means, said successive spaced comb tooth members having natural resonant frequencies corresponding to the sequential musical notes and tones of a desired specific musical melody so that successive sequential vibrating of the free outer ends of said row of teeth along said comb tooth abutment end means will audibly and successively produce in the proper sequence the musical notes and tones of said desired specific musical melody at least some of said corresponding natural resonant frequencies differing from each other and comprising different natural resonant frequencies caused by having corresponding ones of said plurality of said tooth members provided with correspondingly different effective stiffness along and in the direction of the length of said comb tooth end abutment means, said successive spaced comb tooth members being spaced from each other in a direction parallel to said imaginary line by average distances less than one and one-half times the average thickness in the same direction of each of said adjacent comb tooth members on each side thereof whereby, together with said comb base member, to define and comprise a fully functional and usable hair comb adapted for use in combing ones hair.

4. A device as defined in claim 3, wherein said different comb tooth member stiffnesses are provided by having different comb tooth members of different effective length from the outer free ends thereof comprising said comb end abutment means to inner ends thereof cantileverconnected to said comb base member.

5. A device as defined in claim 3, wherein said different comb tooth member stiifnesses are provided by having different comb tooth members effectively provided with correspondingly differing cross-sectionally area-modified portions for effectively modifying the stiffnesses of said different comb tooth members in correspondence with said proper sequencev of said musical notes and tones of said desired specific musical melody.

6. A device as defined in .claim 3, wherein said different comb tooth member stiffnesses are provided by having different comb tooth members effectively provided with correspondingly differing cross-sectionally area-modified portions for effectively modifying the stiffnesses of said different comb tooth members in correspondence with said proper sequence of said musical no-tes and tones of said desired specific musical melody, said cross-sectionally area-modified portions of different ones of said plurality of comb tooth members having substantially similar crosssectional areas at similar heights thereof and extending to different heights along the lengths of different ones of said comb tooth members in correspondence with said sequence of said musical notes and tones of said desired specific musical melody.

7. A device as defined in claim 3, wherein said different comb tooth member stiffnesses are provided by having different comb tooth members effectively provided with correspondingly differing cross-sectionally area-modified portions for effectively modifying the stiffnesses of said different comb tooth members in correspondence with said proper sequence of said musical notes and tones of said desired specific musical melody, said cross-sectionally area-modied portions of different ones of said plurality of comb tooth members having substantially similar cross-sectional areas at similar heights thereof and eX- tending to different heights alo-ng the lengths of front and rear edges of different ones of said comb tooth members 1n correspondence with said sequence of said musical notes and tones of said desired specific musical melody.

8. A device as defined in claim 3, wherein said different comb tooth member stiffnesses are provided by having different comb tooth members effectively provided with correspondingly differing cross-sectionally area-modified portions for effectively modifying the stiffnesses of said different comb .tooth members in correspondence with said proper sequence of said musical notes and tones of said desired specific musical melody, said cross-sectionally area-modified portions of different ones of said plurality of comb tooth members having substantially similar cross-sectional areas at similar heights thereof and extending to different heights along the lengths of laterally spaced side edges of different Ones of said comb tooth members in correspondence with said sequence of said musical notes and tones of said desired specic musical melody.

9. A device as defined in claim 3, wherein said different comb tooth member stiffnesses are provided by having different comb tooth members effectively provided with correspondingly differing cross-sectionally area-modified portions for effectively modifying the stiffnesses of said different comb tooth members in correspondence with said proper sequence of said musical notes and tones of said desired specific musical melody, said cross-sectionally area-modified portions of different ones of said plurality l of comb tooth members having different effective crosssectional areas at similar heights thereof and extending to substantially the same heights thereof in correspondence with said sequence of said musical notes and tones of said desired specific musical melody.

10. A device as defined in claim 3, wherein said different comb tooth member stiifnesses are provided by having diiferent comb tooth members effectively provided With correspondingly differing cross-sectionally area-modied portions for effectively modifying the stilfnesses of said different comb tooth members in correspondence with said proper sequence of said musical notes land tones of said desired specific musical melody, said cross-sectionally area-modified portions of different ones of said lplurality of comb tooth members having diiferent effective cross-sectional areas at similar heights thereof and extending to substantially the same heights thereof, comprising the full height of each comb tooth member, in correspondence Ya with said sequence of said musical notes and tones of said desired specic musical melody.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 342,979 6/1886 Sueur 84-294 X 369,258 8/1887 Paillard etal 89-94 2,031,400 2/1936 VVilcoX 84-377 2,504,666 4/19750 Duncan 84--94 2,531,212 11/1950 Gretsch 84-1 X 3,013,460 12/1961 Groux 84-94 FOREIGN PATENTS 107,605 4/ 1899 Germany.

RICHARD B. WILKTNSON, Primary Examiner.

LEO SMILOW, Examiner.

C. M. OVERBEY, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A MUSICAL MELODY-PRODUCING COMB HAVING A PLURALITY OF TEETH ADAPTED TO PRODUCE THE SUCCESSIVE NOTES OF A MELODY WHEN SEQUENTIALLY VIBRATED, COMPRISING: A COMB BASE MEMBER PROVIDED THEREALONG WITH A PLURALITY OF CANTILEVER-CONNECTED SPACED COMB TOOTH MEMBERS TOGETHER COMPRISING AND DEFINING A ROW OF SAID COMB TOOTH MEMBERS, SAID COMB TOOTH MEMBERS HAVING OUTER FREE ENDS SPACED ALONG AN IMAGINARY LINE AND TOGETHER COMPRISING COMB TOOTH ABUTMENT END MEANS, SAID SUCCESSIVE SPACED COMB TOOTH MEMBERS HAVING NATURAL RESONANT FREQUENCIES CORRESPONDING TO THE SEQUENTIAL MUSICAL NOTES AND TONES OF A DESIRED SPECIFIC MUSICAL MELODY SO THAT SUCCESSIVE SEQUENTIAL VIBRATING OF THE FREE OUTER ENDS OF SAID ROW OF TEETH ALONG SAID COMB TOOTH ABUTMENT END MEANS WILL AUDIBLY AND SUCCESSIVELY PRODUCE IN THE PROPER SEQUENCE THE MUSICAL NOTES AND TONES OF SAID DESIRED SPECIFIC MUSICAL MELODY, SAID SUCCESSIVE SPACED COMB TOOTH MEMBERS BEING SPACED FROM EACH OTHER IN A DIRECTION PARALLEL TO SAID IMAGINARY LINE BY AVERAGE DISTANCES LESS THAN TWO TIMES THE AVERAGE THICKNESS IN THE SAME DIRECTION OF EACH OF SAID ADJACENT COMB TOOTH MEMBERS ON EACH SIDE THEREOF WHEREBY, TOGETHER WITH SAID COMB BASE MEMBER, TO DEFINE AND COMPRISE A FULLY FUNCTIONAL AND USABLE HAIR COMB ADAPTED FOR USE IN COMBING ONE''S HAIR. 